Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) and Human Rights Alert (HRA) on Wednesday urged the state government to take firm decisions on critical issues related to AFSPA as it would convince the people of Manipur of the government’s commitment to uphold the human rights of the victims of AFSPA and not playing “just another pre-poll political gimmick.”
EEVFAM and HRA warmly welcomed the media report that the government of Manipur is likely to recommend revocation of the ‘Disturbed Area’ status under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA) soon, stated a release.
While the much needed and long overdue issue of revocation of ‘Disturbed Area’ status is discussed, it would be totally meaningless if decisions on the critical issues are left out from the agenda of the proposed State Cabinet meeting, it stated.
A most pressing issue is the pending prosecution sanctions against all the police personnel indicted by the CB/SIT in pursuance EEVFAM v/s Union of India, SC WP (Cril) 129 of 2012, it mentioned. Even though prosecution sanctions against the lower ranking police personnel are readily issued, those against the higher ranking police personnel are not issued till date, it added.
It urged the state government to strongly examine the matter with the Union of India to issue prosecution sanction against all the armed forces of the union found to be involved in the extra judicial killing the innocent citizens of Manipur, whose prima facie evidence have been already submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrates of various districts of Manipur following the investigation of the CBI/SIT in pursuance EEVFAM V/s Union of India, SC WP (Cril) 129 of 2012, and recommend the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.
EEVFAM and HRA urged the government of Manipur to take firm decisions on these issues.
As a part of the prolonged and determined struggle of the people of Manipur against AFSPA, EEFVAM and HRA have been spearheading a monumental legal battle seeking justice for the 1,523 extrajudicial executions under the shadow of AFSPA.
